Preview Mode
By default, card layouts are shown in edit mode, as described in previous pages. Preview mode allows you to see, in the Card Layout area, what each printed card will look like with all of its proper content filled in.
Turn on preview mode by selecting the Preview option in the Layout Options area. (You must have a valid content source and Image Folder for the current template in order to turn on preview mode.)
The Layout tab, with the Preview option selected.
(Background image is Copyright © 2016 by Daily Magic Games)
In preview mode, one card is displayed in the Card Layout area as it will appear in printed output. Items are not outlined.
Selecting a Card to Preview
Select a card to preview by using the controls in the Preview area. These are the Card field, its associated stepper control, and the Next Unique button.The Card field accepts a number in the range of 1 (the first card in the content) to the number of cards in the content.
The stepper control increases or decreases the value in the Card field by one.
The Next Unique button is similar to the stepper, but will skip over identical cards to show the next card that differs from the currently previewed card.
Changing Content and Images on the Fly
If you are using the Content Editor as your content source, any edits you make in the Content Editor will be shown immediately in Preview mode in the Layout tab (if that tab is visible and you have turned Preview mode on). If you are using a spreadsheet and/or external CSV file, you may find yourself making changes to the CSV file and the images while Multideck is open. When you do, use the Reload CSV button to tell Multideck that these inputs have changed.Tip: If you prefer, you can type ⌘R to reload your CSV instead of pressing the button.
The Refresh Images button: If you are using the Content Editor, changes to images may not be updated in Preview immediately because images are external to the document. Click Refresh Images to update all images in Preview. This button is available only when your content source is the Content Editor; otherwise use the Reload CSV button to refresh images.
The Auto-reload CSV option: If your content source is "CSV", there is a checkbox next to the Reload CSV button, labeled Auto-reload CSV. If you turn on this option, Multideck will automatically reload your CSV file (and update all images) any time the CSV file has changed. You will not have to click the Reload CSV button every time. This setting applies to your entire document.
No Printable Cards Warning
If a template's source contains no cards, or if all of its cards have been excluded from printing by using the #PrintSelected column in the source or by using the Filter tab, then preview mode is disabled because there are no printable cards to review.
Tell me more about #PrintSelected.
Tell me more about Filters.